L.A. Loses Share of U.S. Pilot Productions

LOS ANGELES: According to data from Film L.A., of the 186 broadcast and cable pilots produced for U.S. networks in the 2012/2013 development cycle, 97 were shot in L.A., giving the city a 52-percent market share.

The 97 projects in Los Angeles is the second-largest tally for the city, and relatively stable on last year. However, L.A. has lost its share of the pilot production pie over the last few years; in the 2006/’07 season, 82 percent of pilots were made in Los Angeles.

Drama pilots, in particular, are leaving the city—22 percent were made in Los Angeles, versus 28 percent last cycle and 63 percent in ’06/07.

The share of comedy pilots, meanwhile, went from 91 percent to 83 percent in a year. "L.A.’s status as the premier pilot production center continues to hinge on industry willingness to produce comedy projects in Los Angeles," Film L.A. says.

New York (19 pilots), Vancouver (15), Atlanta (9) and Toronto (6) are taking an increasing share of the pilot production pie, according to Film L.A. Other key locations were New Orleans and Chicago with five each.

About $277.8 million was spent on pilots filmed in L.A. in ’12/’13, up from $262 million in the previous cycle, reflecting 39 percent of pilot spending by producers in all locations. In the prior year, L.A.’s share was 46 percent.

Looking at picked-up series, there were 47 L.A.-based shows in 2012/2013 and 24 non-L.A.-based series. In the 2013/2014 season, there are set to be 38 L.A.-based shows and 27 filmed elsewhere.

"The loss of just one television drama series can amount to thousands of lost jobs and tens of millions of dollars of lost production spending over several viewing seasons," the report says.